Cable strain relief device

ABSTRACT

A STRAIN RELIEF DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A CABLE USED WITH A COMMUNICATIONS HEADSET OF THE TYPES WORN ON A USER&#39;&#39;S EAR. THE DEVICE PROVIDES FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND RELIEF FROM STRAIN RESULTING FROM THE WEIGHT OF THE CABLE. A TRANSVERSELY BORED PLUNGER IS SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN A TRANSVERSELY BORED HOUSING WITH SLOTS PROVIDED THROUGH THESE TWO PARTS FOR RECEIVING THE CABLE. THE PLUNGER IS YIELDABLY URGED IN A DIRECTION TO RELEASABLY GRIP THE CABLE IN THE DESIRED POSITION WHEN THE HOUSING IS CLIPPED TO THE USER&#39;&#39;S WEARING APPAREL. THE DEVICE FACILITATES RAPID ADJUSTMENT OF CABLE POSITION BY EITHER SLIDING THE CABLE RELATIVE TO THE HOUSING, OR PIVOTING THE HOUSING WITH RESPECT TO THE CLIP. MEANS ARE PROVIDED TO PREVENT UNINTENDED SEPARATION OF THE CABLE FROM THE DEVICE DURING THIS ADJUSTMENT.

P 23, 1974 w. w. JENSEN Re. 27, 986

CABLE STRAIN RELIEF DEVICE Driginal Filed April 1, 1970 INVENTOR.WOLFGANG W. JENSEN ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice Reissued Apr.23, 1974 27,986 CABLE STRAIN RELIEF DEVICE Wolfgang W. Jensen, Capitola,Calif., assignor to Plantronics, Inc., Santa Cruz, Calif.

Original No. 3,604,069, dated Sept. 14, 1971, Ser. No. 24,495, Apr. 1,1970. Application for reissue May 29, 1973, Ser. No. 364,804

Int. Cl. A44b 13/02, 21/00 US. C]. 24-73 SH 6 Claims Matter enclosed inheavy brackets [II appears in the original patent but forms no part ofthis reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates theadditions made by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A strain relief device for supporting a cableused with a communications headset of the type worn on a users ear. Thedevice provides freedom of movement and relief from strain resultingfrom the weight of the cable. A transversely bored plunger is slidablymounted in a transversely bored housing with slots provided throughthese two parts for receiving the cable. The plunger is yieldably urgedin a direction to releasably grip the cable in the desired position whenthe housing is clipped to the user's wearing apparel. The devicefacilitates rapid adjustment of cable position by either sliding thecable relative to the housing, or pivoting the housing with respect tothe clip. Means are provided to prevent unintended separation of thecable from the device during this adjustment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Headsets have been provided for radiotelephone operators, aircraft crewmen, or other personnel for use incommunications systems. These headsets have either been mounted to theuser's head by means of a headband or other supporting arrangement, orhave been of the selfsupporting type adapted to fit over the users ear.The cable carrying the leads to the headset typically extends from theheadset and hangs freely across the body of the user. The weight of thiscable pulling against the headset is somewhat uncomfortable to the user,especially where the headset is used over a long period of time.Moreover, where the user is active and moves his body or turns his headfrequently throughout his work activities, then the freely hanging cableoftentimes interferes with his movements and is otherwise a nuisance.The expediency of merely affixing the cable to the users wearing apparelis not entirely satisfactory where the user changes positionsfrequently, since this requires adjusting and readjusting of the freelength of the cable. Thus, the need has been recognized for a small,simple and inexpensive device for supporting a headset cable in a mannerrelieving the strain or weight of the cable from the users head, andalso which facilitates easy and fast adjustment of cable position andlength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS It is a general object of theinvention to provide a new and improved cable strain relief device foruse with communications headsets.

Another object is to provide a device of the type described supporting aheadset cable to the apparel of a user and relieving cable weight fromthe users head for improved comfort and reduced fatigue.

Another object is to provide a cable strain relief dev ce releasablyattached to the apparel of the user and which releasably holds the cablein a position which Is readily and easily adjusted through bothlengthwise and pivoting adjustments.

Another object is to provide a cable strain relief device of the typedescribed bed which is relatively small and light weight, inexpensive,and comprises a relatively small number of parts.

The invention provides a housing and plunger formed with transversebores which, when aligned, receive the headset cable. Slots in thehousing and plunger facilitate insertion and removal of the cable. Aspring in the housing urges the plunger in a direction for gripping thecable against the housing. A stop on the plunger end limits plungertravel to prevent unintended separation of the cable from the housing.Inward displacement of the plunger provides lengthwise adjustment of thecable, while rotation of the housing with respect to a mountlng clipprovides angular adjustment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating acable strain relief device incorporating features of the invention shownin position on the wearing apparel of a user;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the strain relief deviceillustrating the use thereof in supporting a headset cable;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the strain relief device shown ingripping relationship with a cable: and,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partially in axial cross section, ofthe strain relief device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to thedrawings and particularly FPG. 1 a strain relief device in accordancewith the invention is illustrated generally at 10. This device isclipped to the coat edge or lapel 12 of a user 14 for supporting aheadset cable 16. The cable depends from a communications headset 18,shown in phantom view as mounted above the users ear. Headset 18 may beof the self-supporting type illustrated in copending application Ser.No. 839,016, filed July 3, 1969. This type of headset is adapted to besupported on the users ear with a voice tube 20 having its distal endextending to the users mouth and an acoustic tube 22 insertable into theauditory canal of the user. Cable 16 supplies electrical signals throughleads connected with microphone and receiver transducers with in thehousing of the headset.

Referring to FIG. 2 strain relief device 10 is illustrated in greaterdetail. Device 10 comprises a cable gripping housing assembly 24pivotally mounted on a clip assembly 26. Assembly 24 is adapted toreleasably grip headset cable 16 for carrying a part of the cable weightwhen the clip assembly is secured to the users wearing apparel.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate details of the component elements of device 10.Cable gripping assembly 24 comprises a housing 28, shown as cylindrical,defining an internal cavity 29 having a closed end 30 and an open end32. A transverse bore 34 is formed through the walls of the housing andis of a diameter sized to cradle or receive headset cable 16, as bestillustrated in FIG. 3. A transverse slot 36 is formed through a side ofthe housing and extends into the bore on the side thereof remote fromhousing open end 32. Slot 36 is sized with a width adapted to freelypermit insertion and removal of the cable. A square boss 38 is moldedintegral with housing 28 on a side thereof remote from the openingdefined by housing slot 36. An integral stud 40 projects from boss 38,and this stud is formed with a locking shoulder 42.

A slide or plunger 44, shown as cylindrical, is mounted for slidingmovement within housing cavity 29. A transverse bore 46 is formed in thehousing with a diameter sized to cradle the cable, as shown in FIG. 3. Atransverse slot 48 is formed on a side of the plunger for registry withhousing slot 36, and extends into bore 46 on a side thereof remote fromhousing [open] closed end [32] 30. An operating button 50 is providedwith a skirt 51 defining an internal bore for mounting on a reducedprojecting end 52 of the plunger. A self-threading screw 55 is providedto lock the button on the plunger.

The circumferential shoulder 56 of the button cooperates with housingopen end 32 in a manner preventing unintended or complete release of thecable from the housing. In the cable gripping position of FIG. 3,shoulder 56 is spaced from housing end 32. For release and longitudinaladjustment of the cable, button 50 is pressed and the plunger displacedinwardly until shoulder 56 stops against the housing. At this point thecable is free to slide along bores 34 and 46 to the desired newposition, but righthand edge of plunger slot 48 has not cleared theleft-hand edge of housing slot 36 sufficient to permit removal of thecable through these slots.

Means are provided to yieldably urge plunger 44 in a direction tendingto move it out of housing cavity 29. This means may comprise theillustrated compression spring 58 mounted between housing end wall 30and plunger 44. With a length of the cable in place in the aligned boresoi the plunger and housing, spring 58 is effective to urge the plungeroutwardly for firmly gripping the cable.

Clip assembly 26 comprises a pair of jaws 60, 62 pivotally mountedtogether by means of rivet of fastener 64. A coil spring 66 is mountedon fastener 64 with its outwardly projecting ends yieldably urging theclip jaws together at gripping end 68 in a conventional manner forreleasably gripping the user's wearing apparel. An opening 70 isprovided in upper jaw for mounting the clip assembly over lockingshoulder 42 of stud 40. Means are provided for resiliently locking theclip assembly to the train relief device 10. A variety of means would besatisfactory, but preferably a resilient locking ring 72, which may be,for example, a bowed E-ring, is mounted between locking shoulder 42 andthe inner surface of jaw 60. The resiliency 0f E-ring 72 acting againstthe locking shoulder urges jaw 60 into releasable engagement with theflat surface of housing boss 38. This insures that the selected pivotalposition of housing 24 with respect to clip assembly 26 is maintained sothat the cable extends in the most comfortable position on the wearersbody. At the same time, the user can easily readjust this positioning byturning the housing with respect to the clip assembly.

For initial assembly and installation on a cable, spring 58 and plunger44 are mounted in housing cavity 29. The plunger is pushed inwardly farenough to allow the cable to be inserted through the plunger and housingslots. The plunger is then released to permit the spring force to clampthe cable, and button 50 is then fastened on the end of the plunger byscrew 55 preventing complete release of the cable.

In use of the strain relief device 10, assume that a cable has beeninstalled and is gripped as illustrated in FIG. 3.

For lengthwise adjustment of the cable, the user may easily grasphousing assembly 24 in one hand and move plunger 44 into the housingagainst the force of spring 58 until the cable is released. The userthen slides the cable to the desired position, releases the plunger, andthe cable is again gripped in the new position. The force of spring 58is effective to move the plunger outwardly and carry the cable into itsseated position on the semicircular portions of housing bore 34. Theyieldable force of the spring retains the cable in locking engagementbetween plunger bore 46 and housing bore 34.

Jaws 60, 62 of clip assembly 26 are opened for clipping device 10 to thedesired position on the users wearing apparel providing sufficient cablelength between the headset and strain relief device for adequate feedomof movement and comfort. If the user desires to readjust this free cablelength, he merely pushes plunger 44 into the housing for releasing cable16. The cable is then moved lengthwise to the desired position and theplunger is released so that the cable is locked in the most comfortableposition. The user may then adjust, if necessary, the angular positionof cable 16 by turning housing 24 with respect to clip assembly 26.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a new andimproved strain relief device for supporting a headset cable to thewearing apparel of a user. The elements are relatively small, simple andinexpensive to build. In [user] use the major portion of the weight ofthe headset cable is supported through a clip arrangement on the userswearing apparel to reduce the users fatigue. The cable is maintained inthe desired position on the user permitting freedom of body movementwithout interference from the cable. The cable position with respect tothe clip assembly is readily adjusted through both lengthwise andpivotal positioning. Means is provided to prevent unintended separationof the cable from the device.

While the foregoing embodiment is considered to be preferred, it isunderstood that numerous variations in the details and arrangement ofparts, which have been described and illustrated in order to explain thenature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims.

1. A device for adjustably supporting a cable on the wearing apparel ofa user, the device including the combination of: a housing having acavity defining a closed end and an open end, the housing being formedwith a transverse bore for receiving a length of the cable and a slotthrough a side of the housing extending into the bore on a side thereofremote from the [closed] open end; a plunger slidably mounted in thehousing cavity for movement between a cable gripping position and acable releasing position, the plunger being formed with a transversebore for receiving the length of cable and a slot on a side of theplunger extending [to] into the plunger bore on a side thereof remotefrom the housing [open] closed end; clip means secured to the housing toreleasably engage a portion of said wearing apparel; and, meansyieldably urging the plunger to its gripping position to releasably lockthe cable between the plunger and housing bores.

2. The invention of claim 1 and further characterized in that said clipmeans is rotatably mounted with respect to said housing for selectiveadjustment of the angular position of the length of cable with respectto the clip means.

3. The invention of claim 1 and further including means pivotallymounting said housing on the clip means, and means yieldably holdingsaid housing in gripping relationship on the clip means to permitselective pivotal adjustment of the housing and length of cable withrespect to the clip means.

4. The invention of claim 3 and further characterized in that saidhousing includes a stud projecting outwardly on a side substantiallyopposite of said housing slot, said 5 clip means includes an openingmounted over said stud, and said yieldable means includes a locking ringretaining said stud Within the clip means opening.

5. The invention of claim 1 and further including stop means to limitinward displacement of said plunger with respect to said housing to aposition where the plunger slot is moved in relation to the housing slotprecluding unintended separation of the cable from the cable releasingposition.

6. The invention of claim 5 and further characterized in that said stopmeans includes a circumferential shoulder on the distal end of saidplunger, said shoulder axially spaced from the housing open end in saidcable gripping position of the plunger, and engaging said open end insaid cable releasing position.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,117,277 11/1914 Supplee 24-8l PA 2,482,6259/1949 Kunkel 24--137 A 3,179,991 4/1965 Seal 2473 SH 3,271,510 9/1966Decker et a1. 24239 FOREIGN PATENTS 515,956 12/1952 Belgium 24-239DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

